The Governance of American Innovation: Restoring Congress’s Role
"Weak institutions are more likely to adopt reactionary, heavy-handed, or captured policies during moments of crisis."
What It’s About
Graves examines the declining role of Congress in governing rapid technological change in the U.S., attributing this erosion of authority to shrinking investment and expertise. Graves advocates for rebuilding Congress’s institutional capabilities to ensure proactive, informed, and deliberative oversight of transformative technologies.
Upshot
Graves emphasizes:
- Institutional Weakness Creates Regulatory Gaps: Congress’s diminished capacity puts other entities — agencies, courts, firms — in charge
- Soft Governance is Insufficient: Informal mechanisms like industry self-regulation or voluntary standards can't substitute for formal legislative processes in legitimacy or efficacy
- Capacity Restoration Is Essential: Strengthening Congressional expertise, enhancing committee staffing, and reintroducing specialized bodies like the Office of Technology Assessment are vital steps for effective innovation governance
Did you know? Since the 1970s, staffing for congressional committees—the backbone of legislative expertise—has sharply declined, while the more political leadership staff has tripled.
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Why It Matters
Especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, Congress’ policymaking power requires revitalization. Graves’ report provides a smart set of recommendations to restore the first branch of government’s policymaking capacity, with a timely focus on technology.
Who Wrote It
Zach Graves is the executive director of the Foundation for American Innovation.
